The Works takes on Belgian titles Unspoken and Loft

Ahead of this year's Toronto film festival, London-based The Works International has picked up the world sales rights to a brace of Belgian films: Unspoken, written and directed by Fien Troch, and Erik Van Looy's Loft.

Unspoken will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. It is scheduled for a Belgian release through Cineart in early 2009. (Troch's previous film Someone Else's Happiness also screened in Toronto.) Meanwhile, Loft will be unveiled later in the year.

Unspoken tells the story of parents, Lukas (Bruno Todeschini) and Grace (Emmanuelle Devos), whose 14-year-old daughter, Lisa, has been missing for five years. No clear reason, no goodbye; she simply disappeared without trace. The film is produced by Antonino Lombardo for Prime Time (co-producer of Marleen Gorris' Academy Award-winner Antonia's Line). Versus Production and Motel Films co-produced in association with Ryva.

Loft is a murder-mystery in the vein of The Usual Suspects. Five male friends have a secret pact where they share a loft apartment in which they can discreetly entertain their lovers and conquests. It seems like a great arrangement until, one winter morning, they discover the naked body of a young woman.

No one knows who she is or how she got there. Directed by Erik Van Looy and written by Bart De Pauw, Loft will be distributed in Benelux by Independent Films. Its cast includes Koen De Bouw, Filip Peeters, Matthias Schoenaerts, Veerle Baetens, Laura Verlinden and An Miller. The film is produced by Hilde De Laere for production outfit Woestijnvis.

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